There are times when you know you’re just incredibly happy, and you just feel so blessed to be where you are. I just experienced that walking to my global studies class today. Who are you was on, and of course me being me I danced around a bit trying to cheer my sick roommate up. And that song, and I suppose the influence of my green tea double-tea bags worth of caffeine also, just filled me with so much happiness to be here on the MV Explorer. I absolutely love this program, and there’s no possible way I could explain it properly to any of you back home. You just wouldn’t understand it. Maybe you Robyn if you’re reading this since you’ve been here before. But jeez it’s incredible.
Yet, one aspect of the program that might not be too amazing is the lack of time to do everything. Especially on the boat. Hence why my updates haven’t come too readily. I apologize to all of you back home. But today is a pretty free day for me. No exams. No major planning to do for Croatia. Just catching up on stuff and absolutely enjoying the most memorable experience of my life.
But time to multitask and take notes while also actually posting about Valencia. Followed by another brief Barcelona entry. Then followed by the craziness of Italy day followed by Rome, Civitavecchia, Naples, and ship life yet again. Including the prospect of laying out and de-reflecting-lightifying later.
Clearly I have a lot of catching up to do.
Here goes nothing.
Valencia, Spain
Bus ticket in hand, a huge pack on my back and I was rushing out the door at around 8:30am with a bus at 10am. I was so nervous that I wouldn’t get there in time. Yet, taxis were waiting outside of the port, and I was there in 10 minutes and 10 euro lighter.
After getting a little confused in the terminal, I grabbed breakfast, and then hopped on my bus. Sleep came shortly after. Yet, I did see some of the countryside before Mr. Sandman came. I remembered a lot from Professor Gilmore’s lectures from Anthro of the Euro Med. I could clearly see that the majority of Spain was indeed settled in huge city like settlements. The countryside was nearly bare. So strange to see such ruralness just minutes outside of a huge city like Barcelona.
Eventually sleep did come, but I was awoken about 2 hours into the journey. Worry came over me when I saw our bus pulling into a station. I thought are we here already!? Did I get on the wrong bus?! Should I call Armando? Well, a few seconds of observation showed me that this was just a rest stop. So I jumped off and ran to the bathrooms. And can I just say Spain’s bathrooms are way nicer than Italy’s. Sorry to all you Italians. Anywho, I jumped back on the bus, and slept some more. Two hours later I was pulling into Valencia, a little later than the schedule predicted. Yet, there nonetheless.
I waited my turn to exit the bus, and Armando spotted me right away. He later said he could tell it was me because the Diaz in me was so apparent haha! He greeted me warmly, and led me to Monica and Maria Jose. Maria Jose made me a beautiful welcome drawing, and together we journeyed to the car. I was immediately struck by their kindness and warmth. As we drove, Armando pointed out sights to me in his impeccable English, and also began to challenge me with Spanish. After a short drive we arrived in their town just outside of Valencia. Their apartment was on the second floor, and was beautiful and spacious.
Probably the best part initially? The AMAZING lasagna that Monica had made for me. So incredibly good! I was also greeted by Geluchi and Miguel. So sweet and kind, and pretty funny as well. They asked me questions, and then Maria Jose shared some pictures with me. I tried to share a few with her before my computer died. Afterward I used their computer to call my mom, dad, sister, and abuelita back home. My mom told Maria Jose to only let me answer in Spanish, and her to me in English. Ah! Rough but I guess it was good, though I did embarrass myself plenty.
Anywho, after my phone calls we ventured out in the family car and I was shown all around the city. I must have taken a million pictures, and saw the majority of the city. I was extremely struck by the contrast between modern and historical in Valencia. Some of the buildings seemed so old, especially some of the Roman aspects I was shown. And yet there were also huge buildings that were so very modern in appearance. I will hopefully be able to post pictures in an internet cafe in Croatia. I would love to show you all what I saw and explain that way. Plus it’s easier for me to remember names that way.
Favorite parts of my first day included sampling some traditional snacks at a street cafe. As well as visiting some amazing churches and other beautiful buildings. Geluchi showed me around the inside, and manged to explain to me some of the history and particular aspects of them. That night’s dinner was also so great. So plain and simple in that it was just an assortment of meats, and bread and I tried them all. And I liked all of them! Armando asked me which was my favorite and which was my least favorite, and I honestly had a hard time picking my least favorite since they were all so good. I picked the salami because it was the one closest to other things I had already tried back home.
I also particularly LOVED the street fair they took me to at night. Boy can the Spanish party! They clearly know how to have fun, and love to dance! Why can’t we Americans pick this up? Rarely will you see boys in their 20s dancing sans being absurdly drunk the states. Not the case in Spain. Yes, people were drinking, but very moderately. And on multiple occasions I was told to slow down drinking my beer. Mahou by the way. Very yummy. I was really surprised by the reprimands, just because I feel that I wasn’t drinking very quickly. In fact at home I’m often told to hurry up. Yet, from my own personal observation I could tell that everyone only sipped their drinks, and they lasted quite a while. Drinking was actually a social tool it seemed. Meaning that the people didn’t need it to talk and lighten up. They already were. It was just a fun thing to do while enjoying company. Such a contrast from Americans of all ages I feel. It made me realize that drinking is done to get drunk in America. I know I know. Obviously. But in comparison to so many other people my age that were at this fair, we are party animals. No wonder the world thinks we’re loud.
Anyway that was just one thing that struck me. I loved the street fair. The music, and the spirit that emerged from it really showcased the beauty of Spain. I also loved Miguel’s spirit (who by the way also speaks incredibly good English since he lived in Jersey for I believe eight years). Two of my cousins that I met have muscular dystrophy, a debilitating disease of the muscles. Other members of my family have also struggled with the disease, but in a different manner than Miguel. Yes, his walking may now be limited as are other physical acts we take for granted in daily life. Yet, he made his point clear that he doesn’t let the disease bring him down. He lives life, and enjoys it. I was really inspired by him. He was so funny, and lively, especially at the fair. He had Monica’s sister Angela Maria wheel him over so he could dance with her children as well as Maria Jose, her and me. And Miguel, despite being in a wheelchair, definitely had more rhythm than pretty much all of the people dancing. And there were a LOT of people.
I also got to witness the teenagers dancing together, and saw the awkwardness of the teenage years in Spain. All of it was so interesting. I especially enjoyed talking to Angela Maria about Spain’s culture. She walked me around the local area for a bit and spoke to me of Spain’s way of life, as well as the ethnic differences and political issues that were most prominent. I asked her about the ETA since I had just done a presentation about them in class two days before. Her answers were insightful, and so eye-opening.
All in all it was a great night. Though one more thing I’d like to add. When I spoke with Angela Maria’s children, they asked me what languages I spoke. I embarrassingly had to reply that my limited Spanish and my English were the only two languages I was familiar with. They were sort of shocked that I had never been exposed to German or French, or at least spoke better Spanish. I was definitely embarrassed and it inspired me to get a move on and at least have a better grasp on Spanish next time I visited Spain.
I went to bed exhausted, and felt terrible about oversleeping the next morning. Yet, we still had some time to explore before my bus. Armando was an incredible tour guide. He showed me some amazing ancient buildings, as well as old beautiful churches. I really loved the Templar crosses that he showed me! I also got to experience a traditional Valencian drink that was short of like a super sweet milkshake (picture to come) and churros! Which by the way are sooo different from the ones back home. They are just plain fried dough, and you put the sugar on them or can dip them into more sugar. So much better than back home for sure! He also showed me the Valencia market which was housed in the massive building that from the outside looks more like the exterior of a pretty shopping mall than a giant food market. There I saw not only incredible fruits and vegetables, but meats of all kinds. Pictures to come I hope. Though you may want to not eat beforehand. There were whole bodies of animals completely skinned and hanging for sale My favorite was a baby cows head. Or perhaps the mouths of what seemed to be bulls. Or how about their hooves? So crazy! So cool though too! So many fish everywhere of all different kinds, and just everything and anything you could imagine! The energy of the place was also amazing to experience! Everyone was just going about their business, but it was just so cool to put myself in that typical Spanish situation. Big props to Armando for showing me this! Thank you!
Anyway after finishing the extensive tour of the city, we returned home for a goodbye meal with delicious white rice that Monica had made for me. One thing we never did at home with the Spanish white rice we’ve had is put crushed up tomatoes into it. And can I just say DELICIOUS! I need to get the recipe for the salad Monica made as well, because the dressing was amazing and she also added things to it that we don’t normally. Such as corn, which made it so delicious!
After lunch came the goodbyes and thank yous. And in case they are reading this now, I just want to say how very blessed and welcomed I felt with all of them. And I feel so very thankful for all that you have done for me! Spain is so beautiful, especially Valencia, and I wouldn’t of learned half as much as I did had it not been for their welcoming me into their home. So thank you so very very much. Also, to mom and dad if you’re reading this can we book a vacation to Spain like pronto!? I so want to go back! Haha!
The bus ride home was perfectly fine, and I knew what to do at the rest stop this time. Another 7 euro taxi ride to the shuttle bus that goes to the ship (so I could save a few bucks), and then I was reunited with my friends who I told all about the awesomeness that is Valencia. You all need to go.
More on my night in Barcelona and my last day there to come.
Ciao for now!
